Today's Opinions

Hats off to See Lancaster’s Performing Arts Series for bringing Sunday matinees to Lancaster.
On June 5, the summer matinees kicked off at the University of South Carolina Lancaster’s Bundy Auditorium with an outstanding play, “The Commedia Princess and The Pea,” presented by The Children’s Theatre’s Tarradiddle Players.
From what I understand, the Tarradiddle Players travel North and South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, performing well-known plays.

I want to thank Buford Child Development Center.
The teachers, Judy Jackson and Aubrey Adams, have been very helpful in helping Hailey Altman get ready for kindergarten. They have gotten her well rounded academically and socially.
Hailey loves her teachers. We are proud of her and them.

A few weeks ago, the federally run National Assessment of Educational Progress issued its latest “report card” on civics education in the United States. You get a sense of what it found from “The New York Times” headline: “Civics Education Called National Crisis.”
Most media coverage of the report focused on students’ precarious knowledge of our system of government.

I was recently honored to be selected as interim commander of the S.C. State Guard – succeeding Maj. Gen. Nelson C. Lacy, who is retiring.
I thought I’d take this opportunity to explain a little about the State Guard and its role in protecting our citizens in cases of emergency.

Say or hear the initials “C.B.” and quite likely the next name to come to mind, or be spoken, is Mathis.
C.B. Mathis became a household name not only in Lancaster, but also across the region and the nation.
“The name ‘C.B.’ became known, not only throughout our town, but throughout parts of the nation,” said Tim Martin, who along with Mathis co-owned the real estate company C.O.R.E. Realty.
Mathis, a Lancaster native, died late last month, leaving a legacy of success in real estate as well as the world of pageantry.

The S.C. House of Representatives have before them House Bill 3407 for debate. This bill is labeled the Educational Opportunity Act. It is intended to offer tax credits to parents who send their children to private schools.

Thank you Grady Robinson of Heath Springs for your timely letter “Where did you go, Uncle Sam?” in the May 29, 2011 edition of The Lancaster News.
I enjoyed Mr. Robinson’s letter so much, gosh, I wish I had written it. I think it’s time we remembered our past and the symbols which were used to display our resolve.

South Carolina has one of the weakest governors in the nation, going back to post-reconstruction and the Constitution of 1895.
However, the one aspect of the office in which the governor has full power or parity with other states is in the area of commerce and economic development.
Why then will Gov. Nikki Haley not take a stand on the economic importance of Amazon’s location in South Carolina?